More from Down Under

I finish my days when most of you are starting yours. It lends a bit of a detached feeling. My watch is still set on Indy time, but my body knows that it's living on Melbourne time.

My highlights from the past couple of days

• Taking the train into Melbourne with 'Mander and Kayla on Wednesday--looking up Coronet history on microfilm at the State Library; sipping a cold whipped iced white chocolate drink at Max Brenner, the chocolate cafe; going to Port Melbourne to take pictures of where the Coronet may have come in to the city; experimenting with new Chinese food with Amanda's friend from uni, Christine
• Going to "small group" (Bible study) with Amanda; discovering that the Merisa on the couch next to me was the same Merisa of Johanna Henderson reports; feeling free to share the thoughts I had on Joshua with strangers who weren't really strangers, because we share the same best Friend; worshipping God in Australia
• The beautiful view of Melbourne from Sky High, on Mt. Dandenong on Thursday; the drive there and back with Mr. Shaker, Amanda, and Kayla; admiring the landscape, and the different trees and flowers and bushes
• Hanging out with Amanda and Carol's friends at Alana's birthday party--meeting Amy and Mel and Marilyn and Jen and Ben and Em and Owen and Mike, and getting to chat more with Merisa and Christine (and Christine paying for our dinner, in the generous fashion typical of her!). I had so much fun!
• Visiting the Yarra Training Centre and getting to know the Reimers a bit
• A fish 'n chips ('n cheesecake 'n ice cream) lunch with Amanda's fascinating granddad
• Getting souvenirs in Oakleigh
• A family dinner--lamb roast
• Watching Australian comedy, then Aussie rules football
• Teasing Daniel

Tomorrow we're going to Cape Shank with Amanda and Carol. The weather has been splendid--60s and 70s, mostly. They say it's unusual for this time of year. Today is the first day of spring, though, so maybe it will hold.

Until later . . .